Singapore

Asia emerging as a hub for global pharmaceutical industry

2013-02-05T06:00:00Z

Jones Lang LaSalle report sees life sciences sector place greater emphasis on Asia as a market, manufacturing and R&D location

Pharmaceutical multinationals are reinforcing their presence in Asia, according to Jones Lang LaSalle's latest Global Life Sciences Cluster Report. Widening patient pools and increasing consumer demand in emerging markets is driving the growth of sales offices, manufacturing operations as well as research and development (R&D) facilities around Asia.

"Beyond the cost of developing new drugs and treatments, facility and real estate costs are among the highest expenses for life sciences companies and such firms are optimising their real estate and location strategies to capture market opportunity in Asia," said David Wilton, Asia Pacific Regional Director for Industrial and Logistics at Jones Lang LaSalle. "It is also apparent that the industry is becoming more strategic with regards to site selection, choosing locations with rich industry resources, capital and a higher propensity for discovery and innovation.”

Highlights from the report include:

Whilst in most mature markets, portfolio optimisation has been focused on ‘right sizing’ due to waning sales and duplicate facilities on the back of extensive M&A activity; in emerging markets, life science companies are strategically growing in order to capture market share and savings opportunities. ​

Four of the largest global pharmaceutical companies – Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline – already earn a third of their revenues outside of their traditional markets.

Domestic pharmaceutical companies in Asia are consolidating and expanding outside their home bases, competing with Western multinationals for space in the region's most dynamic life sciences clusters.

Although emerging clusters in Asia have been an industry choice for outsourced manufacturing, they are now focusing on strengthening their R&D capabilities and infrastructure based on increased local demand and potential economic upsides.

In recent years, India, China and Singapore have dedicated resources towards funding intellectual capital, business parks and incubator centres while remaining cost effective as a R&D destination.

India and China are launching initiatives to encourage domestic start-ups and the protection of intellectual property, while promoting the return of Western-trained scientists to help spark domestic economic development. The Chinese government is providing US$1.6 billion in funding to stimulate domestic R&D drug research programs, along with stronger intellectual property protection, to seed future domestic life sciences innovation.

Japanese firms have engaged in intense acquisition activity in Asia and globally in recent years. Japan ranks second globally in terms of prescription drug sales and has the region’s second highest total health expenditure.

By 2016, China is expected to leapfrog Japan to become the world’s second largest pharmaceuticals market with sales of around US$160 billion. Despite its eroding cost advantage through rising wages, currency appreciation and inflation, China is emerging as a prime candidate for R&D investment due to its talent pool and strong government support.

Fuelled by a large population base and an expanding middle class, the life sciences industry in India has achieved double-digit growth in many areas and the country has the potential to become a major pharmaceutical hub and lucrative destination for clinical trials.

Another double-digit growth market, Indonesia, is anticipated to rank as the sixth largest pharmaceutical market in the region by 2016. Changes in legislation will boost the country’s attractiveness and tap into increasing outsourcing opportunities from Western countries.

Already housing contract research and manufacturing activities, Singapore’s life sciences clusters are focusing on the high-tech aspects of research and innovation. Supported by strong intellectual property protection laws, stable political structures and favourable tax policies, growth in the industry is expected to continue.

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Notes to editors

Jones Lang LaSalle has a team of real estate and facility management experts dedicated to helping life sciences companies optimise and manage their real estate portfolios. The firm provides a comprehensive range of facilities management services to the life sciences community covering 70 million square feet of research, manufacturing and commercial space. Jones Lang LaSalle's industry leading full-service platform includes: integrated facilities management, engineering and operations, energy and sustainability, transaction advisory services, lease administration, project management and a new platform for integrating laboratory services, Labwell.

A leader in the real estate outsourcing field, Jones Lang LaSalle's Corporate Solutions business helps corporations improve productivity in the cost, efficiency and performance of their national, regional or global real estate portfolios by creating outsourcing partnerships to manage and execute a range of corporate real estate services. This service delivery capability helps corporations improve business performance, particularly as companies turn to the outsourcing of their real estate activity as a way to manage expenses and enhance profitability.